Video lesson
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Editorβs notes
Hey friends! New lesson here, where Iβll show you how to play a solo acoustic version of Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton. This one has a simple structure (it only uses A and B-minor), but thereβs so much fun to be had by adding small riffs between these two chords. In my lesson Iβll start with the basics (basic chord shapes & 3 strumming options) β and then Iβll get into some more advanced stuff, including chord variations and a few ways you can combine lead fills with your strumming.
Video timestamps:
- 0:00 Preview & lesson overview
- 1:47 Chord shapes needed (basics)
- 3:29 Chord progression for entire song
- 4:42 Strumming patterns (3 options)
- 11:02 Advanced: Modifying the A & B-minor chords
- 15:45 Advanced: Combining lead riffs w/ strumming
My other videos for this song
Backing track
Note, this track begins with:
- 2 measures of drums only, to help you get in sync with the rhythm, which leads toβ¦
- 1 full sequence of 8 measures, with the lead guitar track playing, and thenβ¦
- 5+ minutes of the 8 measure sequence repeating over and over, without the lead guitar
How to practice with a backing track (Lesson #195)
This video walks you through the lead riffs step by step, which you can combine with strumming β using the backing track as the backdrop. This is in the key of A (A and B-minor). Separate PDF for this lesson available here.
Spicing up a 2-chord song (Lesson #191)
This one teaches you how to play things in the key of G (using the chords G and A-minor), to get a similar sound but through different riffs and licks. If you canβt play barre chords comfortable, I recommend giving this one a watch. Separate PDF for this lesson available here.
Lyrics w/ chords
(50 bpm, 6/8 time)
INTRO
E βββββββββββββββββββ ββββββββββββββββββ2ββ ββββββββββββββββββ2ββ E βββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββββββββββββ2ββ ββββββββββββββββββ3ββ ββββββββββββββββββ3ββ B ββββββββββββββββ2ββ
G ββββββββββββββββ2ββ ββββββββββββββββββ4ββ ββββββββββββββββββ4ββ G ββββββββββββββββ2ββ
D ββββββββββββββββ2ββ ββββββββββββββββββ4ββ ββββββββββββββββββ4ββ D ββββββββββββββββ2ββ
A ββββββββ0ββ/4βββ0ββ β/4ββ2ββ0ββ/4ββ2ββ2ββ β/4ββ4ββ4ββ/4ββ2ββ2ββ A β/4ββ2βββ0h2β0ββ0ββ
E ββ0ββ2βββββββββββββ βββββββββββββββββββββ βββββββββββββββββββββ E βββββββββββββββββββ
A Bm Bm A
VERSE
A Bm
...I used to spend my nights out in a barroom
Bm A
...Liquor was the only love I've known----
A Bm
...But you rescued me from reaching for the bottom
Bm A
And brought me back from being... too far gone
CHORUS
A Bm
You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey...
Bm A
You're as sweet---- as strawberry wine
A Bm
You're as warm---- as a glass of brandy
Bm A
And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time
A Bm
...I've looked for love in all the same old places
Bm A
...Found the bottom of a bottle always dry----
A Bm
...But when you poured out your heart I didn't waste it
Bm A
'Cause there's nothing like your love to get me high-----
[ chorus ]
[ solo ]
[ chorus ]
A Bm
You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey
Bm A
Tennessee whiskey... Tennessee whiskey
A Bm
You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey
Bm A
Tennessee whiskey... Tennessee whiskey
How to play the chords
Two chords for the entire song! Canβt go wrong with that. Without a capo, they look like this. Note, Iβm showing the chords for the no capo version (A and Bm), but am also including the chords if you want to add a capo to the 2nd fret (G and Am) β which might be helpful if you canβt easily play B-minor yet.
No capo: Capo 2nd fret:
E ββββ0βββββ2βββββ E ββββ3βββββ0βββββ
B ββββ2βββββ3βββββ B ββββ0βββββ1βββββ
G ββββ2βββββ4βββββ G ββββ0βββββ2βββββ
D ββββ2βββββ4βββββ D ββββ0βββββ2βββββ
A ββββ0βββββ2βββββ A ββββ2βββββ0βββββ
E ββββββββββββββββ E ββββ3βββββββββββ
A Bm G Am
Chord progression & rhythm
Now that we have the chords, letβs talk a moment about rhythm, timing, and when to switch chords. Straight up, this song uses the exact same progression for the entire song - for intro, verse, chorus, and solo sections. That makes it super easy to remember! The progression looks like this:
A A Bm Bm Bm Bm A A
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Six counts per each measure. The chord change always happens on the β1β count. Note how this equates to 2 measures of A-major, 4 measures of B-minor, and finally 2 measures of A-major. Then it all repeats, over and over again.
Strumming pattern
Given the chord progression, letβs talk about strumming. You have a few options, and they all will be based around putting an accent (extra emphasis) on the β1β and β4β counts of each measure. Start by doing a single down strum on the β1β and β4β. This would be spoken as βdownβ¦ downβ¦ downβ¦ downβ¦β
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 +
d d
> >
From there, you could spice it up by doing a down strum on every count - but keeping the emphasis on the β1β and β4β counts. All other counts should get a light feathery strum. This trains your strumming hand to always be moving in the correct rhythm, regardless of strum power. This would be spoken as βDOWN down down DOWN down down DOWN down downβ (etc).
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 +
d d d d d d
> >
Now, to play the exact strum you hear on the album version of this song, youβll want to use this pattern. Note, how the accent on the β1β and β4β still exists, even though youβre adding additional down and up strums. This would be spoken as βDOWNβ¦ up down up DOWNβ¦ up down up DOWNβ¦ up down upβ (etc).
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 +
d u d u d u d u
> >
Spicing up the chord voicings
A few ways to spice things up, should you want. For one, this is a great song to play the A-major chord with a barred index finger (across all the 2nd fret notes, with the high E-string muted). This makes the B-minor easier to switch to, since your left index finger is already barring most of that fret. Also, it allows for easier muting of all the strings - which I cover later in this lesson.
E ββββxβββββ <== muted by left index
B ββββ2βββββ <== left index (barred)
G ββββ2βββββ <== left index (barred)
D ββββ2βββββ <== left index (barred)
A ββββ0βββββ
E ββββββββββ
A
Thereβs also ample opportunity to add small tweaks to the A and B-minor chords by either adding or removing fingers, within the strum patterns. Doing this freely & casually can help add a very helpful dose of diversity to the sound of this song. Here are some of the common tweaks you can doβ¦ practice going back and forth between the βmainβ voicing any each alternate voicing shown here:
E ββ0ββββ0ββ E βββxββββxβββ E βββ0ββββ0βββ E βββ2ββββ2βββ E βββ2ββββ0βββ
B ββ2ββββ3ββ B βββ2ββββ3βββ B βββ2ββββ0βββ B βββ3ββββ3βββ B βββ3ββββ3βββ
G ββ2ββββ2ββ G βββ2ββββ2βββ G βββ2ββββ2βββ G βββ4ββββ2βββ G βββ4ββββ4βββ
D ββ2ββββ2ββ D βββ2ββββ4βββ D βββ2ββββ2βββ D βββ4ββββ4βββ D βββ4ββββ4βββ
A ββ0ββββ0ββ A βββ0ββββ0βββ A βββ0ββββ0βββ A βββ2ββββ2βββ A βββ2ββββ2βββ
E ββββββββββ E ββββββββββββ E ββββββββββββ E ββββββββββββ E ββββββββββββ
A Asus4 A Asus4 A Asus2 Bm Bm7 Bm Bm
Using a percussive strum style
Now, the strumming patterns above might be all youβre looking for. But if you want to dial up the dynamics a little bit, letβs look at some ways to add some percussive spice to your strumming. For starters, use this tab when playing each chord. Pluck the bass note on the 1 count, and strum the rest of the chord on the 4 count.
E ββββββββ0βββββ E ββββββββ2ββββββ
B ββββββββ2βββββ B ββββββββ3ββββββ
G ββββββββ2βββββ G ββββββββ4ββββββ
D ββββββββ2βββββ D ββββββββ4ββββββ
A ββ0βββββββββββ A ββ2ββββββββββββ
E ββββββββββββββ E βββββββββββββββ
A Bm
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
> >
Also, if you can, silence the chord immediately after the 4 count. Do this by touching either your left or right hand lightly against all the strings (release the chord shape with your left hand, even if you keep your fingers touching the strings).
E ββββββββ0βxβββ E ββββββββ2βxββββ
B ββββββββ2βxβββ B ββββββββ3βxββββ
G ββββββββ2βxβββ G ββββββββ4βxββββ
D ββββββββ2βxβββ D ββββββββ4βxββββ
A ββ0βββββββxβββ A ββ2βββββββxββββ
E ββββββββββxβββ E ββββββββββxββββ
A Bm
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
> >
Given this, you can go through the entire chord progression using this chord style - and it adds a very nice percussive sound with your guitar. Very handy if you donβt have a band playing with you!
E ββββββββ0βxβββββββββ0βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ0βxβββββββββ0βxβββ
B ββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββ
G ββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββ
D ββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββ
A ββ0βββββββxβββ0βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ0βββββββxβββ0βββββββxβββ
E ββββββββββxβββββββββββxβββββββββββxβββββββββββxβββββββββββxβββββββββββxβββββββββββxβββββββββββxβββ
A A Bm Bm Bm Bm A A
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Adding some walking bass notes
Want to imitate the sound of the bass you hear on the album version of this song? Hereβs how! Simply use this pattern:
E ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
A ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββββββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββββββββββββ2β0βββ2β0βββ2βββββββββββ2β0βββ2β0βββ2βββββββββββ2β0βββ2β0βββ2βββββββββββ2β0βββ2β0βββ2β
A A Bm Bm Bm Bm A A
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Once you have this, if you want, you can try to squeeze in some quick chord strums on some of the β4β counts. Note, this can be tough with regard to timing! But give it a try - feels great and really starts to make the dots connect.
E ββββββββββxβββββββββββββββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββββββββββxβββββββββββββββ
B ββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββββββββ3βxβββββββββββββββββββββ3βxβββββββββββββββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββ
G ββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββββββββ4βxβββββββββββββββββββββ4βxβββββββββββββββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββ
D ββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββββββββ4βxβββββββββββββββββββββ4βxβββββββββββββββββββββ2βxβββββββββββββββ
A ββ0βββββ0βxβββββββββββββββ2βββββ2βxβββββββββββββββ2βββββ2βxβββββββββββββββ0βββββ0βxβββββββββββββββ
E ββββββββββxβ2β0βββ2β0βββ2βββββββββxβ2β0βββ2β0βββ2βββββββββxβ2β0βββ2β0βββ2βββββββββxβ2β0βββ2β0βββ2β
A A Bm Bm Bm Bm A A
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Or, you could go back to the prior exercise (bass note => single strum) and bring in a single walking bass note. As follows:
E ββββββββ0βxβββββββββ0βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ0βxβββββββββ0βxβββ
B ββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ3βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββ
G ββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββ
D ββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ4βxβββββββββ2βxβββββββββ2βxβββ
A ββ0βββββββxβββ0βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ2βββββββxβββ0βββββββxβββ0βββββββxβββ
E ββββββββββxβ0βββββββββxβ2βββββββββxβ2βββββββββxβ2βββββββββxβ2βββββββββxβ0βββββββββxβ0βββββββββxβ0β
A A Bm Bm Bm Bm A A
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro licks
Hereβs the lead licks that are heard in the intro to the song. Note, these licks all begin on the β4β count of the measure theyβre in (exception: the third lick starts on the β5β count). This includes when the song begins, which is on the β4β count of lead-in measure before the first full measure of the song. After each lick, the full chord that follows gets its complete strum on the β4β count of the following measure.
Also, I recommend you try this riff using just one finger (left index) for all the lead notes. This helps the slides fall into place much more easily. Using your left index finger allows it to easily be in position to play the full chords, if thatβs your goal. See my video lesson for reference here - it will help big time.
E βββββββββββββββ(0)β βββββββββββββββββββ(2)β ββββββββββββββββββ(2)β E βββββββββββββββ(0)β
B βββββββββββββββ(2)β βββββββββββββββββββ(3)β ββββββββββββββββββ(3)β B βββββββββββββββ(2)β
G βββββββββββββββ(2)β βββββββββββββββββββ(4)β ββββββββββββββββββ(4)β G βββββββββββββββ(2)β
D βββββββββββββββ(2)β βββββββββββββββββββ(4)β ββββββββββββββββββ(4)β D βββββββββββββββ(2)β
A ββββββββ0ββ/4ββ(0)β ββ/4ββ2ββ0ββ/4ββ2ββ(2)β ββ/4ββ4ββ4ββ2βββββ(2)β A ββ/4ββ2ββ0ββ0ββ(0)β
E ββ0ββ2βββββββββββββ βββββββββββββββββββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββ E βββββββββββββββββββ
A Bm Bm A
Typed out in tab form with the counting included, it would look like this. The key thing to notice here is how the first lick comes in on the 4-5-6 counts of a partial measure that precedes the first full measure.
E ββββββββ|βββββββ0βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ0ββββββββββββββββββ|β
B ββββββββ|βββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ3ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ3ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββββββββββββββ|β
G ββββββββ|βββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββββββββββββββ|β
D ββββββββ|βββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββββββββββββββ|β
A ββββββ0β|β4βββββ0βββββββββββββ4β2β0β|β4β2βββ2ββββββββββββββ4β4β|β4β2βββ2ββββββββββββ4β2β0β|β0βββββ0ββββββββββββββββ0β|β
E ββ0β2βββ|βββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββ0β2βββ|β
A Bm Bm A
4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro licks with added basslines and chord strums
This is my favorite! It takes the distinctive intro licks, but also adds some chord strums as well as some tidbits from the bassline tab we looked at earlier.
E ββββββββ|βββββββ0βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
B ββββββββ|βββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ3ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ3ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2h3ββββ2βββββββββββ|β
G ββββββββ|βββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2ββββββ2βββββββββββ|β
D ββββββββ|βββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ4ββββββββββββββββββ|βββββββ2h4ββββ2βββββββββββ|β
A ββββββ0β|β4βββββ0βββββββββββ0β4β2β0β|β4β2βββ2ββββββββββββββ4β4β|β4β2βββ2ββββββββββ0β4β2β0β|β0βββββ0ββββββ0βββββββββ0β|β
E ββ0β2βββ|βββββββββββ2βββ0βββββββββββ|βββββββββββ2ββ0βββ2β0βββββ|βββββββββββ2ββ0βββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββ0β2βββ|β
A Bm Bm A
4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
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